Friday, May 20, 2016

One lesson that is reinforced with some regularity as we age is that good things can't be rushed. Doing something worthwhile the right way is more important that rushing it out the door. This is an important perspective in considering the upcoming single "But I'm Scared" by The Echo Session. The band was signed by Glasgow label Flowers In The Dustbin in the last decade. A subsequent recording session produced the 2009 single "Tell Me", as well as "But I'm Scared". Although "Tell Me" was released and drew deserved praise for the quality of the music and its message of greed while the world reeled from economic melt down, "But I'm Scared" rested in unreleased limbo for seven years.

Now, in a labor of love, Glasgow's Flowers In The Dustbin has dusted off a live-recorded version of "But I'm Scared" and is offering it as a single in August. While "Tell Me" understandably drew comparisons to the Kinks, "But I'm Scared" adds a '60s California folk rock sheen to the Kinks vibe. It is one of my favorite songs of the year so far, and I very much wish the band would write some new music. "But I'm Scared" can be pre-ordered now.

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Coast Modern is a Los Angeles duo comprised of Coleman Trapp and Luke Atlas, and we think they are about to make their way into a lot of summer playlists. Their latest offering is the dancehall inspired ready-for-the-beach jam "Guru". We also have included previously released "Hollow Life" and "Animals" to demonstrate that these guys have a full arsenal of sounds. The guys played SXSW in March and are spending much of the rest of the year on the road. The Bumbershoot appearance may get me to venture to Seattle Center on September 2.

The Colourful Band is one of our favorite bands from Scotland. The band is Ian McKelvie and various supporting musicians. We featured their 2015 album Sometimes It Rains about a year ago (link), and their excellent self-titled LP back in 2012 (here). While busy with careers, surfing and other distractions of life, Ian manages to find time to pen new songs. We have two for you today, "A Festival In 1995" and its B-side, "Stolen Police Car". The lead track is a nostalgic look back at, well, a festival in 1995. The B-side is a slice of garage surf that sounds like what you'd get if The Jesus and Mary Chain were the tough guy cousins of the Beach Boys. If it makes you want to go out and steal a police car, the band wants you to know that they disclaim any liability whatsoever. And that disclaimer will stick. Trust me, I'm a lawyer.

You will note the little download arrows on the Soundcloud widgets. You also can find the songs on iTunes.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Some new bands need a few singles and EPs to find their sound and become the next indie "it". And then there are bands like Mercury Girls. The Philadelphia five-piece was only formed last year, but already is locked and loaded, radio and pop-fest friendly, SXSW-tested, and ready to show off to your best friends. Their sound recalls C86 and Sarah Records, but digging down a bit I'd describe it as Veronica Falls and Popguns with a dose of Shop Assistant's Glasgow grit. And if I name check three of my favorite bands of ye olden days in describing a newcomer, you can bet that I'm very high on that newcomer.

Slumberland Records, a label with well-demonstrated good taste in new indie bands, has signed Mercury Girls for their official record debut, the two-song Ariana. The title track is a racing, rushing noise pop triumph with simmering verses, thumping rhythms and swelling choruses. It is the kind of song that makes you instantly love a band. The B-side, "All That Heaven Allows", could make a strong case for a double A-side designation for this record, if not for the strength of the leading track. For its part, "All That Heaven Allows" burnishes the band's post punk chops and demonstrates that their arsenal is far more that perfectly sweetened noise pop.

Ariana is out on Friday, May 20 in vinyl and digital formats, and is available to pre-order now. Mercury Girls will be playing Popfest in New York, and touring in the Eastern US.

Eskimeaux is the recording and performing name used by Gabrielle Smith, a New York based songwriter and producer. In 2015 she released the well received LP, O.K., and now has followed it up with a mini album titled Year of the Rabbit. While O.K. was very much an experimental folk creature featuring very well-implemented studio processing, Year of the Rabbit takes a more mainstream pop direction and was recorded live with Smith's live collaborators Oliver Kalb, Felix Walworth, and Jack Greeleaf. While one hesitates to predict what a talented and inventive artist will do in the future, I would offer that this version of Eskimeaux is very pleasing, indeed. The record consists of six well-crafted slices of life, voiced with nuanced perfection. My favorites at this point are "Power" and "Drunk", but there isn't a dud in the lot. As a mini album, it is over too quickly, but it demands repeats and you won't tire of it soon.

There will always be space in my music library for pristine pop that makes me smile and sigh, and plants earworm melodies in my brain. And Year of the Rabbit is a good example of why I feel that way.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

About a year ago Swedish electro-pop band Death and Vanilla reminded us how very good they are with To Where The Wild Things Are (our feature here). The talented Maleen Nilsson and Anders Hansson craft sonic wonders with elements of psychedelic pop, baroque pop and minimalist experimentation. Their work has been compared to Broadcast and Sterolab, but really is too broad in scope for such references to be more than starting points. The duo loves vintage instruments and horror film music, both of which inform their recording, adding depth and tension to the sweet and bright elements common to electro-pop.

Before To Where The Wild Things AreDeath and Vanilla had released a self-titled EP, a self-titled LP, and a two-song single titled "From Above". Those early works are as excellent as they are hard to find, so listeners who only became fans last year have been unable to get their full dose of D&V. However Fire Records is in the business of providing happy endings, and has now released all three of those earlier records. Feast your ears on the sampler of cuts from the reissues below, and then stock your musical cupboard with Death and Vanilla.

Monday, May 16, 2016

"Short Truth" -- yet another single from Yoncalla, the upcoming LP from New Zealand synth pop quartet Yumi Zouma. To our ears "Short Truth" has a bigger scope that their previous songs. Perhaps they are preparing for the big arenas their talent deserves.

Yoncalla will be released on May 27 via Cascine, Arch Hill (Australia/New Zealand), Rallye (Japan) and Double Deer (Indonesia).

Our favorite New Jersey lo-fi, fuzz dream-poppers Honeydrum have released an number of 'name your price' songs in the past week. Enjoy them below and hit the links if you are interested. We find it a very good soundtrack for our Monday morning.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Japan's The fin. is making their bid for global fame on the strength of their new release, Through The Deep EP. The European release is set for the first week of June via Lost In The Manor Records, and the band is touring this month in the UK. The record features five tracks with arena-filling beats underlying dream pop melodies and strong vocals. The quartet is smooth without being slick, writes interesting songs, and delivers a quality performance. Check out two of the songs below.

Tryst, the debut EP from transatlantic duo Djustin is the electro-pop record of the year so far. And it may hold that position at the end of the year as well. The songs vary between shimmering anthems and more brooding affairs, but all are club ready and stuffed with pop excellence. The perfect lead vocals are provided by Detroit's Rose Suau, while the production duties are handled by Stockholm's Johan Angergård, of Club 8, The Legends and Acid House Kings -- and also the head of Labrador Records. The songs have plenty of nuance for the most discriminating listener, but sacrifice nothing in offering the beats to dance the night away.